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I live in the Midwest which is Big Ten country. Once conference play starts virtually every Big Ten game is televised in my region and I commit myself to try and watch all of them. I have three televisions set up as some games are being played at the same time. I have no bias or affiliation to any Big Ten team as I am a lifelong Notre Dame fan (I include ND games in my viewing schedule as well). My comments and reports are qualified only by my love of the game and an extreme commitment to watching and following Big Ten football.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

The opening of the season is
always met with anticipation as we finally get to see this year’s edition of
Big Ten teams in action under “game” conditions. The first and subsequent weeks
prior to conference play are the most difficult to track as there are more
games to keep an eye on. And some are relegated to obscure TV channels that I
can’t access. But according to the TV schedule I have, it looks like I’ll get
to see enough games this weekend to keep me plenty occupied. Only got time for
Saturdays so I may not get to stay fully tuned to the Minnesota or Michigan
game on Thursday. Will have to see how it goes. Same goes for Purdue on Sunday
and Ohio St. on Labor Day. Definitely won’t see Michigan St. or Illinois on
Friday.

Usually one of the downsides
to this portion of the season is the mismatches as many teams like to schedule
“cupcake” opponents at home in order to “tune up” and pad their overall record.
But this is the best opening week schedule I’ve seen in a long time,
particularly the games that I’ll have access to. So good, in fact, that I’m
gonna rank ‘em in the order of the matchups I find most intriguing:

1)- Texas at Notre DameSept 5, 6:30 pmNBC

My beloved Irish open the
season with a new QB and a much needed fresh start after last season’s
horrendous finish. ND has a lot of players coming back and by most accounts the
new QB is great. He would have to be to send Everett Golson packing. I liked
that kid. And I like HC Brian Kelly. The Irish are highly ranked by most
publications, but given the ND love-hate dichotomy among college football fans,
that could be for the purpose of driving up sales. The schedule isn’t as brutal
as usual but still one of the toughest in the country. My optimism is guarded.

2)-Michigan at UtahSept 3, 7:30 pmFS1

I’ve been in the minority
during the offseason in saying that Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh turns it around in
his first season. We’ll get a good read from this game. Many, including the
oddsmakers, have this one penciled in as a loss for the Wolves.

3)- BYU at NebraskaSept 5, 2:30 pmABC

I’m calling for a subpar
season for the ‘Huskers. I think this game will be one of five Nebraska losses
and it’s not because I think BYU is particularly good. Once again, I’m in the
minority so I’m curious to see if I’m right.

4)- TCU at MinnesotaSept 3, 8:00 pmESPN

I’m so engrossed in Big Ten
that I’m honestly not in tune with the rest of the country so I really don’t
know much about TCU other than they’re coming off a great season with a highly
regarded returning QB. I think Minnesota is on the rise, but I don’t think
they’ll be so good that they’re beyond occasionally stumbling against weaker
opponents. But by all accounts, this isn’t a weaker opponent by any stretch.
Most are predicting a TCU blowout, and I did mark this one as a loss for the
Gophers, but I’ve got a premonition Minnesota will have a chance to win this
one and might even pull off the upset.

5)- Wisconsin vs AlabamaSept 5, 7:00 pmABC

I’m guessing this is
considered the marquee matchup by most and I wouldn’t argue given that the Tide
is involved against one of the Big Ten’s better programs in recent history. But
aside from an interest in having a look at Alabama and learning about the
Badgers, I’m not quite as intrigued as most. I think Wisconsin will get
pummeled.I hope I’m wrong, though.

6)- Stanford at NorthwesternSept 5, 11:00 amESPN

This game starts off on the Main
TV to kick off the first college football Saturday of the season. I don’t
figure ‘em to win, but we’ll learn a lot about Northwestern from this one.

7)- Ohio St. at Virginia TechSept 7, 7:00 pmESPN

I’m not sure why I don’t have
this one ranked higher. It certainly has a great storyline. Defending national
champs. Rematch against the only team to beat the Buckeyes last season. And the
answer to the months old question as to who will start at QB for the Buckeyes
and more importantly, how he performs. I dunno, I just think Ohio St. is gonna win
easily.

8)- Purdue at MarshallSept 6, 2:00 pmFS1

I could almost rank this one
a spot higher. I’m interested in Purdue because I think they’re going to be
dramatically improved. More of a hunch than anything, so I could be way off.
This game is on the road and Marshall is supposed to be pretty good so I didn’t
pencil this one in as a win for the Boilermakers. But I’m expecting them to be
competitive. We’ll see.

9)- Penn St. at TempleSept 5, 2:30 pmESPN

Penn St. is another team that
I don’t foresee performing as well as most seem to think they will. I don’t
think Temple is the best barometer, but there’s always something to be learned
from watching a team play a game.

10)- Illinois St. at IowaSept 5, 11:00 pmBTN

I usually disdain matchups
against FCS opponents but I think the Hawkeyes are in danger here. Former
Indiana QB Tre Roberson brings an Illinois St. team to Iowa City that last
season made it to the FCS championship game.

11)- Kent St. at IllinoisSept 4, 8:00 pmBTN

I have a nephew who plays QB
for the local High School team so Friday nights are for High School football. I
might get to catch the tail end of this one. Kent St. has been pretty bad
lately but then, so has Illinois. So who knows, this one might still be close
late in the game.

12)- Michigan St. at Western MichiganSept 4, 6:00 pmESPNU

I don’t have access to ESPNU
so I couldn’t watch this one even if I wasn’t committed to my nephew’s High
School game. Doesn’t matter. This is one of the “cupcake” opponents I mentioned
in above in my write-up.

13)- Southern Illinois at IndianaSept 5, 3:00 pmESPN News

ESPN News? ‘Da hell is that?
I don’t even know if I get that channel. No matter, I’m not very interested in
matchups against FCS opponents. I don’t like it, but this game will be one of
the reasons I think Indiana will worm their way into a bowl game this season.

14)- Richmond at MarylandSept 5, 11:00 am ESPNU

Each season more games are
landing on the “U”. I hope it’s not a trend. I couldn’t pick a better game to
get shut out of though. A non-FBS opponent against a mediocre conference
newcomer. Who cares?

15)- Norfolk St at RutgersSept 5, 11:00 amESPN News

There’s that ESPN News thing
again. I stand corrected. Turns out I CAN pick a better game to get shut out
of. For the same reasons.